4 Days from Marrakech to Fes via Desert

Embark on an unforgettable 4-day journey from Marrakech to Fes, weaving through Morocco’s most spectacular landscapes and cultural treasures. This tour takes you across the majestic Atlas Mountains, into the heart of the Sahara Desert, and through picturesque valleys and historic towns, culminating in the enchanting city of Fes.

• Day 1: Marrakech to Dades Valley via Ait Benhaddou and OuarzazateLeave Marrakech early and cross the High Atlas through the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, at 2,260 metres the highest mountain pass in Morocco. Your first stop is the UNESCO-listed Ait Benhaddou, an example of traditional earthen architecture: wander its alleys and climb to the top for views of the landscape. The ksar has served as a backdrop for many films and series, including Game of Thrones. Next, Ouarzazate, often called the Gateway to the Sahara, with the Taourirt Kasbah and, if time permits, the Atlas Film Studios. Continue through the Valley of Roses, famous for its rosewater products, to the Dades Valley, known as the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs. Overnight in a riad or hotel with a traditional Moroccan dinner.
• Day 2: Dades Valley to Merzouga via Todra GorgeAfter breakfast, depart for Todra Gorge, a canyon carved by the Todra River with cliffs over 300 metres high. Walk along the riverbed between the red rock walls and the green palms. Travel through Berber villages, palm groves and desert landscapes, with a stop in Erfoud, known for its fossil workshops and markets, before reaching Merzouga, the gateway to the Erg Chebbi dunes. In the late afternoon, ride camels into the Sahara as the sun sets over the dunes. At the luxury desert camp you have a traditional Moroccan dinner, live Berber music and stargazing around the campfire. Overnight in a tent under the desert sky.
• Day 3: Merzouga to Midelt via Ziz ValleyWake up early for the sunrise over Erg Chebbi. After breakfast at the camp, return to Merzouga by camel or 4x4. Drive through the Ziz Valley, a ribbon of palm groves and villages in the desert, with stops at viewpoints for photos. Continue through the Middle Atlas Mountains to Midelt, known for its apple orchards and as a stopping point for travelers. Overnight in a guesthouse with a hearty dinner.
• Day 4: Midelt to FesVisit Azrou, known for its cedar forests and its Barbary macaques, and take a short walk in the forest where you may meet them. Stop in Ifrane, a mountain town with European-style architecture and gardens, known as the Switzerland of Morocco. Arrive in Fes in the late afternoon, where the tour ends. Fes is the cultural and spiritual capital of Morocco, a good place to continue exploring.

This 4-day tour is a good fit if you want to cross Morocco from Marrakech to Fes and see the desert on the way, instead of returning to your starting point. It combines the kasbahs and valleys of the south, a night in the Sahara and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, with cultural exploration, scenery and a desert adventure in one journey.